Many of the staple sports that are popular today like football, basketball and baseball were started decades ago out of necessity when there weren’t a lot of choices for folks to past their time. When video games were first introduced to the public in the 70’s by Atari, and more so in the 80’s with Nintendo and Sega, kids flocked to them and enjoyed many wonderful hours. As years passed, gaming competitions started to increase and players wanted to know who was the best, battle against others who enjoyed the same game, and build a community around these games. Today, with the rise of online gaming, players have the option of competing in tournaments for huge money with users from around the world and at any skill level. Gamers that were virtually unknown yesterday could become champions overnight.
NBC News
Not everyone is going to be champion. Just like traditional sports, it takes hours of training, the right equipment, and of course some talent. Folks that think they or anyone can play games and win these battles just need to drop into a match and see the level of competition.
Some of these games are solo-based like golf or tennis that require incredible skill and concentration, while other Esports games are team-based that need coordination and dedication. They are very much like basketball or hockey where it’s fast-paced matches that everyone has to know their role and play their part in order to secure the victory for the team. Winning or losing could come down to just one mistake and it’s not about just one player’s stats that make the difference. Imagine in a hockey match the goalie just deciding to try and score a goal rather than defend his own, they would most likely give up points and lose the match. The same is true for Esports, if a player only cares about themself rather the team’s need they could end up costing them a victory.
New Yorker
Sure there are hot streaks, cold streaks, highs and lows, and many other dramas that happen during a gaming tournament, but that’s what makes it exciting and similar to other sports. The games are full of action and dramatic game play that often result in large cheers or roars from the fans and crowds in attendance. Games are usually very close and come down to the wire, which make it’s very thrilling for fans, just like traditional sports
Esports bring out the fans and players. Schools looking to boost their exposure and sports revenue are turning to Esports to help fill that gap and reach younger audiences. Kids today have more opportunities to join both high school and collegiate Esports teams, and in some cases earning scholarships to play. Whereas other traditional programs are being cut or unfunded from schools, Esports is a growing trend among institutions as they look to engage and develop young folks with skills like communication, teamwork, dedication, effort, and more. Many of the same fundamentals and principles that are taught and practiced for traditional teams are done for Esport teams, which make them a viable alternative today.
Young folks looking to connect and engage with others that enjoy the same hobbies are turning to Esports as a way to build friendships, experience more life events, and enjoy opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t have been present. Esports like traditional sports, is a great way for kids to build camaraderie with others, sharpen their communication skills, improve hand-eye coordination, faster motor-skills, and scientific study has shown that gaming even improve the brain development.
Video gaming may be associated with better cognitive performance in children
National Institutes of Health
Overall Esports offers many of the same benefits as traditional sports for both the player and the organization. They are exciting and fun to watch, which attracts fans. Players gain valuable skills and earn wonderful opportunities for both education and prizes. Teams build bonds that can last a lifetime. Folks that things it’s just a bunch of games, well it is, that’s what sports are all about. Like the old saying goes…
“It’s not how you win or lose, it’s how you play the game”.
Grantland Rice